Snowdon III
Snow-done
There is something remarkably satisfying about completing a random and spontaneously generated challenge you and a good mate set only three days earlier. What was a combination of scrolling through All Trails and an unfolding of OS map OL17 Snowdon/ Yr Wyddfa led to the birth of Snowdon III.
Three days.
Three ascents.
Three different routes.
Snowdon Summit
Day I: Rhyd Du
Distance: 12.25km (7.61 miles)
Elevation Gain: 998m (3,274ft)
Duration: 3:07
Good views up the Rhyd Du track
The first day involved travel to the foot of Snowdon, but not without taking in a petrol station serving baked goods and other packaged carbohydrates. There is something reassuring about being in the company of a Dr of Nutrition who immediately picks up a packet of three sausage rolls - a good omen.
The relative emptiness of the car parking situation was an indication of how many folks were using the Rhyd Du route that day. The five people we did see were mostly on their way back down sharing in the joy of decent gusts blowing in off the Irish Sea. Hoods up, heads down. Grinding out the switch backs without looking over the northern ridge into the 500ft drop into the abyss.
…or not, as the clouds roll in
A pit-stop midway up was most welcomed thanks to the total of zero training done at threshold which came prior to the trip. Good ol’ burn was back doused by salted snacks and fresh Welsh cakes. An army doesn’t march on a Ceaser Salad, which is why the bowl of lettuce was named after an inventor and not the emperor!
Like most of the weekend to come summiting was to hang out in the clouds. Pretty standard for 350 days of the year in the UK. Enjoying the views would be an activity to enjoy on the descent, subject to not getting blown off the side of the mountain.
Summit one!
Descending on day one was a good chance to warm the less than optimum mid-led hinge joints up, and feel relieved I’d trimmed the toe nails before setting out! The pace was naturally quicker and we were back at the car in - somewhat surprisingly - good time, reversing out of the car park just as the rain started to fall. Momentary smugness became short-lived as said rain didn’t disappear for at least 36 hours….
Summit selfie #1
With one ascent done, it was pretty obvious what came next: check-in to the accommodation, shower, find food and beer…
Day II: Llanberis Path
Distance: 14.89km (9.25 miles)
Elevation Gain: 1,058m (3,471ft)
Duration: 3:19
This, for about two hours…
Day two got off to a flier as we drove round half of mid-wales looking for an EV charging point that actually worked. Eventually finding one situated a mile out of any town and in the car parking of a milkshake vending machine led to one outcome - 8am milkshakes. (The car charging was a mild relief).
With cooked breakfast, milk calories and a pile more packaged carbs it was time to pay a small fortune in Llanberis for the pleasure of what was a car park resembling one huge puddle. Time to have a crack at a slightly longer, but reportedly more gentle, track up Snowdon.
It’s always brighter somewhere
Broadly speaking, a longer path typically means a section of it is kinder in gradient and length relative to shorter routes. So as we trudged up the 15% tarmac path at the foot of the Llanberis path I was definitely questioning the milkshake, along with the beer from the night before.
Anyhow, that soon evaporated into the inside of my layers as we stomped up and into the wind and rain. Despite my (relative) lack of fitness it was good to see the pace held punchy enough to drop others on the mountain that morning. I dread to think how many relationships ended that day - misery is not just a Maroon 5 song, it’s a facial expression!
Much like the Rhyd Du path, the Llanberis path has a delightful (sarcastic) ramp of which my Garmin reckons is somewhere between 23% and 43%. The headwind and inhalation of slate was rather unpleasant.
Thankfully, Peter Jackson was directing this movie and I recovered to carry George up Mount Doom….whoops, wrong bit!
The summit held a similar vibe to a nightclub, just as someone turns the lights on to kick everyone out. And straight back down we went…moving much quicker and unhelpfully offering cheery greetings to those still on their way up. Sorry to the lads I incentivised with an ‘about 20 minutes’ when you were definitely 40 minutes away from the summit.
There is no such thing as ‘bad weather’…
Back at base, you know the drill; shower, beer, food and hang out in and around all your hung up wet clothing and gear.
Day III: Pyg Track x Miners Track
Distance: 12.33km (7.66 miles)
Elevation Gain: 862m (2,828ft)
Duration: 3:09
Powered by triple pastry consumption
The third and final day took shape rather swimmingly as we bagged the rare commodity which is a car parking space opposite the YHA. George impressed me straight out of the traps with his triple pastry consumption on the lower slopes of the Pyg track, especially as we moved with Uruk haste to escape the clan of balaclava wearing cooing lads.
The Pyg track offers a few nice breathers early on and with no rain I was virtually applying some sun cream and stripping down to my summer gear.
Views worth ripping your legs to pieces for
The inevitable did strike though and the waterproofing was back out. The gradients and technicality increased in equal measure, as did the number of people we passed. In hindsight, it is no wonder the legs started to creak. Doh!
Converging with the top of the Llanberis path was both a delight and a reminder that the five false summits between there and a due Snickers at the summit was still a little bit of walking away. That said, chocolate for second breakfast is a pretty good incentive.
By this point we had slapped the top of the mountain twice already and mastered the formula (thanks to George) of taking a selfie with one more finger raised. A quick change of headwear and time to rattle back down the Miners Track to keep things varied.
Luckily the scenery was grand and interesting enough to distract from the persistent rain soaking us both through, again. It was back at the car park, standing in my boxers trying to put a dry sock on, that the achievement sank in a little.
Summit selfie #3
We were not breaking any records or tackling world feats, we were having a good time doing a personal challenge we both had in mind. This extraction from the working, chaotic bubble of life is exactly the antidote to many issues. It is also the best way to engage with nature - just get out there and do it.
This time of year is commonly an ‘off season’ period for many endurance athletes where unstructured weeks are filled with variety - something I would dutifully encourage - perhaps this is a spontaneous mini adventure of your own? Maybe it’s the chance to reconvene with a friend you’ve not seen in a while - be it Snowdon or your local trails. Perhaps you need to drag yourself away and get some wind and rain on your face to come back and perform even better?
If so, what are you waiting for - get out there!